WASHINGTON, DC — The Cyprus Children’s Fund honored American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Founder Eugene T. Rossides, presenting him with The Cyprus Children’s Fund Recognition Award at the organization’s testimonial dinner held March 21, 2015, Terrace on the Park, New York City.

“I am deeply grateful for this wonderful honor from the Cyprus Children’s Fund, which has done so much to help alleviate the plight of underprivileged and displaced children of Cyprus, following the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of 37.3 percent Cyprus,” AHI Founder Rossides said.

In acceptance, Rossides spoke about the days following Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in July 1974. He recounted his meetings with State Department officials, which led to the disappointing realization that the United States was not going to apply U.S. law and stop arms to Turkey and was not going to intervene and take action to reverse Turkey’s illegal invasion. As a result, Rossides founded the American Hellenic Institute a few weeks later.

Rossides was honored alongside the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) by the Cyprus Children’s Fund. He thanked AHEPA for its financial assistance following the invasion that allowed for a significant grassroots campaign that led to the successful U.S. rule of law embargo of arms to Turkey.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American think tank and public policy center that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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